October 15, 2024

 

God opens doors

 

Acts of the Apostles 16, 9+10+14:

During the night Paul had a vision of a man of Macedonia standing and begging him, ‘Come over to Macedonia and help us.’ After Paul had seen the vision, we got ready at once to leave for Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them.

14: One of those listening was a woman from the city of Thyatira named Lydia. She was a dealer in purple cloth and a worshipper of God. The Lord opened her heart to respond to Paul’s message.

 

Dear Readers,

 

Europe is the topic of today's sermon. To be more precise: God and Europe. Because God sent his apostle Paul to Europe. He was supposed to travel to what is now Greece. There he is to proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ. God, who loves all people without exception, also calls Europeans into his community. Through the apostle Paul and other Christians, he does what Jesus Christ told his disciples to do (Gospel of Matthew, chapter 28, 19-20): “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely, I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

 

The German stamp from 1973 shows a stylized post horn. Three strong lines strive dynamically upwards, towards the sky. The reason for this European stamp was the accession of Great Britain, Ireland and Denmark to the European Community (EC) in 1973. Greece only became a member state of the EC in 1981.

 

If the Apostle Paul would have been in possession of this stamp, I think he would have sent it to the other Christians in Jerusalem. He could have written to them: My people, the word of God is working powerfully in Europe! Our prayers are reaching heaven, and they are being answered. God himself opens people's hearts. They hear about Jesus Christ and want to live with him. They got baptized and start a new life with the Lord Jesus. God changes their lives, through His love. 

 

The European Community was expanding. In 1973 there were nine member states, today the European Union includes 27 members. The gospel of Jesus Christ also was spreading  in Europe. It all started with a God-fearing woman. God's spirit worked in her heart. This woman was baptized in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. From then on, the dynamic of faith in the true God, whose spirit still touches hearts today, worked in her. May this power also fill your faith. May God also touch your heart. That is my prayer.

 

Thank you very much for listening to me. May God bless you. May He keep you in body, soul and spirit.

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